She headed to the fridge and got out the sandwiches. She found some plates in the first cupboard and glasses in the next one over. There was a pitcher of iced tea in the fridge, so she put ice in the glasses and poured each of them a glass of tea.
She was just getting it all to the table when Grayson came back in.
“Hey,” he said. “You found everything.”
“You have a very well-organized kitchen,” she told him. “I poured us some tea. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” he said. “It’s nice not to have to get anything ready myself.”
There wasn’t much preparation involved in putting store-bought sandwiches on a plate for dinner, but Evangeline decided to just take the compliment.
“The man at the fire station said these were from Mario’s?” she said instead, by way of conversation as she took a seat.
“Yeah,” Grayson said, pulling out the chair opposite hers. “It’s a pizza shop, but they’ve got the best sandwiches in town.”
“That’s good to know,” Evangeline said. “Do they make a good cheesesteak?”
“Best around,” Grayson said with a smile. “They get a delivery of Amoroso rolls in every day.”
Evangeline nodded, feeling a little relieved. She didn’t eat out often, but it was good to know at least one place in this cute little town served her favorite food.
It was quiet for a few minutes as they dug into their meal. Evangeline had grabbed a random hoagie and when it turned out to be an Italian she was really happy. And the men at the firehouse weren’t wrong about the quality of a Mario’s sandwich. The spicy salami was so flavorful against the savory provolone cheese that it was all she could do not to moan around every bite. Of course, she felt almost inside out with hunger and exhaustion, so maybe that was what made it seem so delicious.
“Good?” Grayson asked when she finished the first half of the enormous sandwich and stopped for a sip of tea.
“So good,”she told him, feeling only a little embarrassed that she had scarfed down half her dinner so quickly. “I forgot lunch today.”
“Well, bring that appetite with you tomorrow,” he chuckled as he started on his second half.
“What’s going on tomorrow?” she asked.
“My mom’s good friend invited us over to the Inn for dinner,” he said. “Trudy is an incredible cook.”
“I’m invited too?” Evangeline asked, feeling a little stunned.
“I messaged her when I was upstairs,” Grayson explained. “Although there was really no need. She’s always hoping I’ll bring someone.”
He stopped suddenly and cleared his throat.
“I didn’t mean—” he began, his hand snaking up to rub at those scars on his neck again.
“My brother always hopes the same thing,” she said quickly. “But he’s my best friend, and I keep pretty busy with work. It’s not like high school when we both brought our friends over for dinner all the time.”
Grayson nodded, a tiny smile tugging up one corner of his mouth.
“I mean, of course, I’m just going with you as Leo’s nanny,” she said quickly, worrying that maybe he would think it was presumptuous of her to consider herselfa friend.She had just wanted to avoid that awful awkwardness from before.
“Leo and I can use all the friends we can get,” he replied gently.
When she dared to meet his eyes again, his blue gaze was solemn now.
“Me too,” she heard herself tell him.
“Then I guess it’s good that we met,” he said.
Suddenly, the intensity of his gaze felt like it was taking up all of her senses. The kitchen faded away and there was nothing but Grayson Ward, his wide shoulders relaxed now, and his handsome face focused completely on her.
“I, uh, didn’t bring anything out here with me,” she said, forcing herself to look away. “It was supposed to be more of a scouting mission, but when Sam had me chase after you it felt like maybe all this was fate.”
